Just returned from a short day cruise on Lake Erie. While on reach (10 - 20 MPH wind with 2' to 3' following sea) the swing keel was making an occasional thud sound. Is this common with swing keel boats? No noise when sailing into the wind.
Swing Keel Noise?
- Thread starter Happy Dolphin
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Maybe it was lifting slightly when the boat would ride down a wave and then banging back down, doesn't take much to echo through the big fiberglass drum that is a sailboat hull. I would say check for play side to side or looseness at the hinge but that would show up much more often I would think. If it was side play maybe going into the wind was holding it solid enough to one side where as down wind it had more freedom to shift as the waves moved the hull around.
Thanks PPPPPP42, I was thinking the same on the downwind effect. Still thinking someone must have encountered a similar noise? I will probably take the boat out of the H2O to apply the new swing keel lift line and our "Happy Dolphin" decals next week. Always something to DO!
Rich (RBone) Thanks, I had to look at the brochure - It is a a keel centerboard. The Happy Dolphin is a 1979 O'Day 22 C/B. Board up draft = 1'3", Board down draft = 4'3". Swing axle is toward front of keel and the lift/lower line is at the rear of keel through a tube that exits at the cabin door.
Regards, John
Regards, John
I think (hope) your assessment is dead on! It has been a while since sailing on Erie and the lake appears to have heavier weed growth each and every day. May pull the boat out at the Metro Park on Sunday to inspect and apply Name. PS: for the next 2 days the Downriver Cruise (4 Wheel style) will occupy our other vice...
My O'Day 222 does that occasionally when I'm sailing down wind in choppy seas. If the seas are gentle, I'll raise the board all the way up when I'm on a run down wind.
Try taking up on the centerboard pendant line a little and see if it stops. What is happening is the board is swinging from side to side and this is normal and when your beating into the wind, the water pressure against the board is keeping the board against the inside of the keel slot.
I always keep my board up when my boat is either anchored in a cove or tied to my mooring. This action alone I believe can cut down on wear and tear to the fiber pivot pin and the hole in the centerboard.
The O'Day 22 keel/centerboard is a nice little boat and it sail very well. If you pull the boat out of the water, check the pendant line and the shackle. I had a broken cotter pin on my shackle last year and I replaced it. This year it was still OK when I checked it.
Joe
Joe, Thanks for the input... I'll inspect on Sunday...
I did receive a new Pendant line and shackle from D&R Wednesday. Is there an easy way to replace this line? My trailer has the horizontal rollers under the keel that stops any chance of lowering the center board! Will I have to employ a sling, or can the change be accomplished in the H2O?
Regards, John
I did receive a new Pendant line and shackle from D&R Wednesday. Is there an easy way to replace this line? My trailer has the horizontal rollers under the keel that stops any chance of lowering the center board! Will I have to employ a sling, or can the change be accomplished in the H2O?
Regards, John
John,
If you know someone who has scuba gear, I'm sure that it can be done in the water. You would need to tie a strong string to the end of your centerboard pendant line in the cockpit and with your centerboard down, just pull the old pendant line out through the keel slot. The string will be used as a tag line to pull the new pendant line up into the cockpit. I would provide plenty of string so that you can tie the new pendant line to it from in the cockpit. After you get it tied, have the diver attach the shackle to the board and just pull the new pendant line up into the cockpit. It should go very smooth and easy because I think your pendant line pipe goes straight down into the centerboard slot from the cockpit on an O'Day 22 keel/centerboard sloop. The pipe on the O'Day 222 has a 90 degree bend and there is a small single sheave in a pocket at the end of the pipe in the keel slot where the pendant line rides through. I think that O'Day designed the 222 this way to make room for a large cooler behind the step in the cabin.
I can only tell you how I used to get at my keel when my boat was on a roller trailer. It involves a block & tackle, ropes, wood blocks, and the towing vehicle hooked to the trailer for sliding the trailer out from under the boat. I don't have to remind you that it can be a dangerous task.
I take my 222 off my Long Mfg tandem flat bunk trailer every year using jacks, blocks, and boat stands.
For getting at your keel to drop the board, you would only need to slide the boat off the trailer part of the way or enough to get the keel past the back of the trailer. The hull needs to be supported under the stern with wood blocks. Also, some type of shoring is required to prevent the boat from tipping sideways. I use four sailboat stands in the stern of my boat for this purpose. My boat stands can also take the weight of my boat, empty. I have pics and info on it sailtrinkka1986@verizon.net but doing it in the water is probably safer, faster, and easier I think.
Joe
Pulled boat out at Humbug Marina to applt decals ("Happy Dolphin") and replace Pendant for centerboard. Decal appl. went well; but the pendant line was attached through a hole in the lower leading edge of the keel through to a lateral hole (1.25" Dia.) where a knot was applied and where the knot and hole was filled with an epoxy product and smoothed! Wondering is this a normal or original application? The pendant shakle width was not wide enough for the keel, plus the replacement line appeared larger than the one I'm replacing? I may talk to D&R on Monday or Tuesday...
Rich, No had to place back into H2O after applying decal - time constraint... May take out again later this week?
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